Messi wins Ballon d'Or for fifth time
- 8 years ago
Lionel Messi reclaimed the FIFA Ballon d'Or award for the world player of the year on Monday, after watching his great rival Cristiano Ronaldo walk off with the prize for the previous two years.
The Barcelona and Argentina forward finished ahead of Ronaldo and Brazil forward Neymar as he scooped the award for the fifth time overall, having previously won it four years in a row from 2009 to 2012.
Messi helped Barcelona win a Spanish league, cup and Champions League treble plus the Club World Cup and also led Argentina to the Copa America final, where they lost to Argentina.
"It’s incredible, much more than anything I dreamed of as a kid,” said Messi as he received the award.
"I want to thank my team mates, without them none of this would have been possible.”
The Barcelona and Argentina forward finished ahead of Ronaldo and Brazil forward Neymar as he scooped the award for the fifth time overall, having previously won it four years in a row from 2009 to 2012.
Messi helped Barcelona win a Spanish league, cup and Champions League treble plus the Club World Cup and also led Argentina to the Copa America final, where they lost to Argentina.
"It’s incredible, much more than anything I dreamed of as a kid,” said Messi as he received the award.
"I want to thank my team mates, without them none of this would have been possible.”